Deep pelvic ache or pressure
It's often worse with long sitting, after exercise or late in the day, and feels like a weight.
After pelvic radiation, pain can feel like a deep ache or weight in the pelvis. Some people also have burning with urination or pain with sex or bowel movements. It’s often worse with long sitting, at the end of the day or after exercise. Your cancer care may be finished while these symptoms continue.
Commonly, the muscles around the pelvic floor, hips, inner thighs and lower abdomen stay braced. Fascia, the connective tissue around muscles, can become less flexible. Nerves can become more irritable with pressure, stretch or sitting.
Your oncology team manages the cancer and the direct effects of radiation. I treat the pelvic pain and its muscle and nerve contributors using dry needling, a form of acupuncture, and electroacupuncture. A guarded obturator internus lines the side wall of the pelvis and can press on the obturator and pudendal nerves. Needling it helps give them space. Pudendal or obturator nerves that stay irritable get electroacupuncture, fine needles close by with a soft current, to help change their signaling.
Care after radiation rightly focuses on cancer surveillance and medical management. Imaging can rule out major problems but doesn’t measure pelvic floor tone or nerve sensitivity. Medication can lower symptoms without changing tight muscle or trigger points, and general stretching can flare tissue that’s already sensitive. If pelvic floor PT has been part of your recovery, note that New York bars PTs and chiropractors from dry needling.
I start with your treatment history, what sets symptoms off, and how fast flares settle. Then the exam:
Oncology, urology, gynecology and pelvic floor PT each keep their role while you see me. If anything in my exam seems worth raising with your team, I’ll bring it to you and share the details.
It depends on where you are in treatment, your skin, your blood counts if relevant, and your oncology team’s guidance. I coordinate with your oncologist when needed and use a lighter approach when tissue is reactive. The aim is to ease symptoms, not to change cancer outcomes.
No. Radiation effects and cancer care belong with your oncology team. I treat the guarding, muscle pain and nerve sensitivity that can continue afterward. Often that means combining approaches: relaxing the pelvic side wall muscles relieves the nerves running past them, and current addresses nerves that stay reactive.
Imaging is very good at ruling out many structural problems. It doesn’t measure pelvic floor tone, trigger points or nerve sensitivity. Those are what a hands-on exam looks for.
It depends on how long you’ve had symptoms and whether bladder, bowel and sexual function are all involved. One or two visits a week across roughly 4 to 6 weeks is a common starting point. Visits space out as symptoms become more predictable.
Yes, and often that’s a good fit. Pelvic floor PT is frequently the foundation for coordination and retraining. Easing muscle tension and nerve irritability can make those exercises easier to tolerate.
Contact your oncology team or urgent care right away for new or heavy bleeding, fever, or new or worsening numbness or weakness. Being unable to urinate, severe escalating pain or any concerning change in cancer-related symptoms also needs a doctor first.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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118 W. 72nd St, Rear Lobby, New York, NY 10023
Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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